Board updated on status of Scrubgrass Road project

Published Jul 11, 2013 at 10:28 am
(Updated Jul 11, 2013 at 10:28 am)

Work on Scott Township’s Swallow Hill Road may begin later than anticipated, but the project is moving forward.

At the Scott commissioners’ July 9 agenda meeting, township engineer Larry Lennon updated the board on the status of the projected repairs to Swallow Hill Road from Greentree to Scrubgrass roads, estimated at $1.5 million.

Lennon said a field survey and traffic counts had been completed, and the utility companies had been notified to ask if they had any repairs that needed done in the area so utility work could be coordinated with the road repairs. He said the gas and phone companies had indicated that their equipment was in good repair, but they have not heard from PAWC.

According to Lennon, bid documents are 70 percent complete, and the engineering firm has been talking with contractors about the feasibility of completing the project by the end of the year. Lennon said that at least one third of Swallow Hill, past Knob Hill apartments, should be able to be completed by year’s end. Commissioner Bill Wells said the township should push to have the road completed to Crosswinds Drive.

Lennon said the progress would depend on several factors, including the weather and PennDOT’s progress on Scrubgrass Run. Swallow Hill Road is the detour for Scrubgrass Run, so work cannot begin until the Scrubgrass project is completed. Lennon said PennDOT is indicating Scrubgrass Run will be finished in mid-September, which prompted Commissioner Pat Caruso to remark the date was a month past their original stated completion date.

A public works committee meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. to discuss the project in detail. Bid opening is set for Aug. 22, and the contract for the project is expected to be awarded at the board’s Aug. 27 regular meeting.

In other business, the board heard from Scott resident Dave King, owner of Designed AV Solutions. The company offers video production, post production, photography and AV installation, and King is in the developmental stages of aerial photography and videography as a hobby.

King has taken photos of various attractions around the city, and offered to take aerial photos of features in the township free of charge.

King takes the photos with a Cinestar 8 optocoptor, an unmanned aircraft (UMA) that he likened to an octopus or spider. According to FAA regulations, the remote controlled UMA must fly under 400 feet and must operate at least five miles away from an airport.

Under current FAA rules, King must operate the aerial photography and videography as a hobby, but by 2015, regulations will be in place for him to operate the services as a business.

Board president Tom Castello had questions regarding privacy issues, to which King replied that he does not fly over private property without permission.

Energy Conservation

Some of the residents of Scott Township’s Glendale neighborhood were surprised with a bag full of energy saving items donated by Duquesne Light. On June 29, volunteers randomly visited 150 homes to deliver the bags, which included CFL bulbs, a power strip and bookmarks with energy saving tips to help homeowners conserve energy and reduce their energy bills.

Also included was an invitation to a free program about energy conservation at 7 p.m. July 24 in the main meeting room at the Scott Township Municipal Building. Open to all township residents, the program to help residents reduce energy costs is sponsored by ReEnergizePgh ambassador Jane Sorcan.